A man has been arrested in connection with threats made against Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny and in relation to an apparent arson attack on his car last week. The man was arrested on Monday 4 November outside Thurles. He is currently being held Thurles Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
Section 4 of the act allows the gardaí to hold a suspect for up to 24 hours. Convictions under Section 4 can carry a prison sentence of “five years or more”.
Threats and arson
Kenny, who is a Sinn Féin TD for Sligo-Leitrim, had previously received death threats for voicing his support for asylum seekers. He had also supported the housing of asylum seekers in Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim. The TD had said he was not taking the threats seriously.
But last week his car was burnt out in the early hours of the morning of Monday 28 October. Gardaí had said they were investigating the possibility that the car had been deliberately set on fire.
When contacted for comment about the latest arrest the Garda Press Office told The Beacon it “does not comment on named individuals”.
Update
The man has since been released without charge. A file is currently being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Featured image via Wikimedia Commons – Sinn Féin
